Students Working with Women

Find a midwifery student to accompany you throughout your pregnancy journey.

Midwifery students are individuals who are passionate midwives in training, and they are looking for pregnant women to work with. If you are interested in having a student midwife share your pregnancy journey, read on to find out what it is all about.

What is a 'Continuity of Care Experience'*?

Midwifery students are required as a component of their formal studies to work directly with women in what is often called a Continuity of Care Experience (COCE) – where the students follow the woman through her pregnancy, birth and postnatal journey. COCE is a journey of learning for both the student and the woman as they develop a relationship of trust and respect. The experience embeds the midwifery concept of woman-centred care into the student’s learning and enables them to develop skills and knowledge that will become the basis of their ongoing practice.

For women who are not in a ‘continuity of care’ model, this is a fabulous opportunity to benefit from having a familiar person caring for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.

*you may hear about the program under a number of other terms such as ‘Follow Through’, ‘Follow Through Experiences’, ‘Mothers adopting Midwifery Students’ (MAMS), ‘Call the Midwifery Student’, ‘Continuity of Care Program’, etc.

What does it mean for you?

You get to choose whether you want to have a student follow your pregnancy, and you can change your mind if circumstances or your preferences change.

You will get to know a passionate and knowledgeable student who will accompany you through your pregnancy journey. You will develop a trustful relationship with them and benefit from real woman-centred care.

The student will attend some of your antenatal and postnatal appointments, and also be at your labour and birth where possible. They will always be under the direct supervision of a midwife or doctor.

You will be providing a future midwife with an amazing, unique and vital learning experience and so be contributing to the profession of the future!

Find a student for your journey: contact a university now!

Each university that offers a course for individuals wishing to become midwives will have a different way for you to register your interest in having a student join you on your pregnancy journey. Below are details for universities that have provided information – some universities have provided brochures and they are available for you to see, download and print from the table below (click the word ‘brochure’ at the relevant university and the file will open in a new page).

*All universities have been offered the opportunity to provide details for this resource, however not all universities that offer midwifery are listed. You can see a full list of universities that offer midwifery in our career information section.

Women are advised to ask at their hospital whether there are SCU students in the continuity program as we are scattered across a large majority of Northern NSW and South Eastern QLD. Hospitals include: Coffs Harbour Health Campus, Kempsey District Hospital, Macksville District Hospital, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Grafton Base Hospital, Lismore Base Hospital, Byron Central Hospital, Tweed Hospital , Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.

NSW

Western Sydney University

Women are advised to make a request via the hospital where they are birthing.

University of Technology

See brochure. Women can ask at the hospital for a student midwife to care for them.

Call the Midwifery Student Program. Visit their website for more information.

University of South Australia

Call the Midwifery Student Program. Visit their website for more information.

VIC

Deakin University

Women are encouraged to self-refer. Email the university contact to be matched with a student: clin-nm@deakin.edu.au. Deakin midwifery students are located in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool so there are many options available and areas covered.

We place students in a large number of rural and metropolitan hospitals throughout Victoria, with a smaller number of interstate placements. In the first instance we encourage women to contact the hospital they will be attending, or to contact the Program Coordinator via email to : Midwifery@federation.edu.au.

Australian Catholic University

Midwifery Students Continuity of Care Experience (CCE) - Visit their website for more information

You may also come in contact with a midwifery student through social groups and the community, in hospital or other antenatal clinic rooms while waiting for an appointment (some of the hospitals are set up to ask women when they come for their first appointment if they would like to have a student work with them), or through a friend if they have had a positive experience.

Ifyou are asked to have a student follow your pregnancy, please consider saying yes, but always remember if it is not for you, then it is OK to say no.